1 comments about Frommer's Northern Italy: Including Venice, Milan & the Lakes (Frommer's Complete).

1. I've always liked Frommer's, mainly because the books are well-organized and provide a great overview and starting point. The attractions are clearly explained, with hours, admission fees, restrictions, & considerations. The hotel suggestions are generally good, though usually a little on the more expensive end, and in lieu of internet I find them generally reliable.
   It can be a little dry and a little mainstream, but their books are usually updated with good regularity & is good for planning your sightseeing and transportation. More detailed information on ferries & hydrofoils (not just from Frommers but guide books in general) would be nice!

5 comments about City Walks: Paris: 50 Adventures on Foot.

1. These cards give you great ideas for exploring different neighborhoods and places to stop along the way. But you need to be careful that the directions are correct. I went through about 20 cards (combined walks each day). And each day there was a card with a slight, but important, error in it: the path on the map was drawn incorrectly, street names were incorrect, or the written direction said to go down a street when really you needed to go up the hill. They're useful and I recommend them, but just make sure you have another map with you in case you get a bit lost. But getting lost can be half the fun of exploring a new city.



2. Having just returned from a visit to Paris, we found these cards to be marginally helpful and interesting to us. Each of the 50 cards contains a map on one side and text on the other, and each walk contains information of historical and architectural interest as well as some merchant and restaurant suggestions. this sounds good on paper, and I found the cards to be useful when planning our days, but by necessity the text was really short on facts and too long on merchants. I think this could be useful but if you really want a walking tour, you'd be better off getting something more lengthy and detailed. the cards are handy for throwing in your pocket, but not all streets are marked.



3. I liked the size of these cards - they were easy to carry around and refer to. I also liked the fact that they don't just cover the usual spots. There are some nice out of the way streets and locations to explore in this deck.



4. I used these cards on a visit to Paris a few weeks ago, and I have to say that I found them much more beneficial than the several guide books that I also had. Each day I would just pick the area I wanted to explore, take out the cards from this pack from that area, and use them as a general starting point to explore the area.
   
   There is a really interesting selection. All of the main "touristy" areas are covered, but what I found much more interesting were the slighlty more off the beaten track walks. They help you discover some of the "other" sides to Paris.
   
   Each card has a map on one side, and a written guide on the other which includes notable sights, shops, cafes etc as well as the suggested start point Metro station.
   
   The only thing that might have been added was a Metro map.
   
   I was very pleased with this product and I will use the City Walks for other cities that plan to visit in the future.



5. We just came back from Paris and it was a wonderful trip thanks to the City Walks Cards! My husband and I would choose about two cards in the morning and have a perfect day of walking around different areas of Paris. Then we would come back to our hotel, rest a bit, and for the afternoon go for another walk. These cards and a book with pictures are really all you need to have a great time.
   
   I wish we had NY City Walks cards when we stopped in NY and stayed there for a few days, because we ended up walking a whole lot and not really feeling like we explored the city as well as we did Paris.
   
   Next time we take a trip I will make sure to buy the "City Walks" cards for that city (and hope that they have them).

No comments about European Rail Timetable Summer 2008: Rail Schedules - June to December (European Rail Timetable).

2 comments about Spartacus International Gay Guide 2008.

1. Spartacus saves time! Forget searching through endless website for information on the local gay scene. Who knows if the website even exists anymore or when it was updated the last time. Spartacus is ideal for planning your holiday. It is up-to-date (even though the gay scene changes all the time) and at least I am sure that the advertisers are still around when I visit their city. We don't have a better gay guide - Spartacus remains the number one for gay international travel.



2. This is an annual purchase for me. I agree with the previous reviewer--forget the rest of the guides or jumping around on multiple websites. Spartacus is truly the only international guide you will need. It will bump out underwear or shoes or anything else to get into my suitcase for a trip. Sure, Damron guides are good for USA travel and if you never plan on leaving the US border get that guide. For all the other globe trotting guys like me, this is the one you'll want.

3 comments about Portugal (Country Guide).

1. This guide excels in the ins and outs of
   travel by other than rental car and plush
   hotels. The public transportation information
   is useful.



2. We always use Lonely Planet because they tell it like it is---good, bad and ugly !
   
   This latest book on Portugal is no exception.
   
   Wonderful !



3. After having tried a few other guidebook series, I am back to Lonely Planet, as these are simply standard-setting in terms of travellers' reference.
   
   But this is the exception that confirms the rule (along with Lonely Planet Iceland & Faroes). Though published last year, so much of the basic information is not up-to-date - and several recommendations seem like an absolute mystery as they in no way live up to Lonely Planet's usual criteria.
   
   Just too many times I found myself planning according to the book's information and recommendations, and ended up finding nothing or not finding the expected. The examples are too many to be ust coincidence and 'because things change'. I will therefore get rid of this one, and try Footprint or The Rough Guide next time I go to Portugal.
   
   Yet, my critical rating of this guidebook should also be seen in the light of my high expectations, as Lonely Planet - mostly - does set the standard. Try again - new edition.

5 comments about Round Ireland with a Fridge.

1. Tony Hawks is a legend. Absolutly brilliant.... one of the few books which have actually made me laugh out loud. Be wary of reading in public places because the constant smile/giggling to yourself can prove to be a little socially akward.



2. 'Round Ireland With a Fridge' is the first of Tony Hawks' two books inspired by a loony bet with a friend. I liked this book well enough, but I think it falls a bit short in comparison with his 2004 follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, which I think is pure genius - an inspiring work never to be dislodged from my Top 10. It's brilliant.
   
   In 'Round Ireland,' I give Tony credit for recognizing the role that morning DJ Gerry Ryan had in his success. Ryan literally put the whole country on alert for Tony. He set the tone for Hawks' circumnavigation of the Isle when he called it "a totally purposeless idea, but a d-mn fine one." That Ireland rallied to that call is a testament to a wonderful country and its good-natured people.



3. I plan to order several more copies of this book and give it to many of my friends. It makes me laugh out loud! Very well written.



4. This is a laugh-out-loud funny book. After reading it, I wanted to visit Ireland. Sure, the premise of the book is a bit ridiculous. Traveling around Ireland with fridge to win a bet. However, the author consistently points this out himself. The people he meets are interesting, and his take on them (and the adventure as a whole) is well written and worth reading. As a bonus for those who can't read, there are many pictures in the middle of the book.



5. I enjoyed this book about Tony's adventures in Ireland. Like the cover says--he made a drunken bet no one expected him to keep, kept it anyway, and ended up with this adventure.
   
   I, and several others in my bookclub, have no desire to see the stand up comedian in person. He didn't really come off as a funny guy in the book, particularly because he bombed both times he had a chance to show his stuff, but the book is delightful because it is peopled with quirky unforgettable characters and there's a wry humor in the writing.
   
   SPOILER:
   Tony's success in getting around Ireland with the fridge was definitely due to the call-in radio show that followed him from the beginning. He hardly struggled to hitch. Or find a place to sleep. Or eat. But that never diminished my desire to continue reading. It actually made me want to read more--to see how popular the guy could get. The adventure was fun to follow to the end, which was the funniest part of the book with its wonderfully anticlimactic kitchen appliance parade. I think the Irish people redeemed themselves there.
   
   Don't read this book to discover Ireland--it's not a travel story of that sort. You do get some nice imagery/descriptions, but not enough to make it a standout feature of the book. You get more about the people than the land.
   
   One neg is that I really don't feel like I know Tony Hawks much by the end of the book. You know more about some of the Irish characters than you know about him. Very little background info/motivation for actions, etc. is offered, and I wonder why. A little bit (not a ton) of that would have improved the story for me. Another neg is that the book made it seem as if all of Ireland is drunk all the time. It might be because Tony hung out mainly in bars, but it seemed like an unfair implication (then again, I am very unfamiliar with Ireland and Irish people).
   
   In the end, this is a fun read about a crazy adventure in Ireland.

5 comments about Finding George Orwell in Burma.

1. I lived in Burma in the late 80's because of my father's U.S. government job. I find most American's know little about Burma (as I did not before I went there.) The current regime has sealed off the country, so that its people suffer behind a veil. They are hidden from the rest of the world. Through the lense of a study of Orwell, the author provides a window into a country few know about. I loved that this book was short and accessible. I recommend this to anyone who wants to find out about Burma. You don't have to be a George Orwell scholar to understand the comparisons. (Although, I'm an English teacher and thought the author made some insightful observations.)



2. I visited Burma recently for a tourism visit. I read this book in preparation. Since much of the narrative is in historical terms, I didn't, at first, get a sense of what to expect. Only on my return did I realize that it gave me a much richer experience than I otherwise would have had. It is an often beautiful book. I got to see a number of the places that are mentioned in the book, but I frequently recalled her descriptions, rich with historical context, when I was there.
   
   What I gained from reading this book before my visit was to sit-in on the conversations that the author had with both seemingly ordinary and some extraordinary Burmese. Not knowing the language, and being a casual visitor, I wouldn't have dreamed of talking politics when I was there. This book is hardly a journalistic contemporary history piece, but the author asked all the questions of ordinary people that you would want to ask, but can't. Burma is an exceptionally beautiful place, but I was always conscious that I was seeing only what tourists are allowed to see. There was no obvious evidence of the horrible events of just a few months ago, but armed with the author's experiences I could better see what was around me.
   
   The parallel narrative involving Orwell was quite effective. It made me want to reread Animal Farm, and seek out Burmese Days. For potential visitors to Burma, I would also recommend The Trouser People: A Story of Burma in the Shadow of the Empire



3. Emma Larkin methodically followed Eric Blair's footsteps in Burma. As an expatriate Burmese (having left the country in 1969), I find her description of the present socio-political situation in Burma and the parallels she draws with Orwell's vision of the human condition rather fascinating. I agree with Larkin that Blair's experiences in Burma had a definite impact on Orwell's views about the nature of human societies, but more interestingly, it is clear from the way Larkin describes many Burmese in her book (especially the kind of english books they read) that the impact of the british colonial period on Burma was substantial. What is then the more subtle message here? How much Burma changed a single colonial officer (a rather moody and pessimistic type at that!), whose later books did influence the way the world views colonialism, communism, fascism and other totalitarian regimes or how much England changed Burma (where the present regime is totalitarian)
   I like the literary style of the book (easy to read) and there are many interesting and illuminating details about Blair and Burma. but perhaps the narrative is a bit too naive to really give a deeper understanding of what Blair experienced in Burma and more importantly what Burma went through in history to reach the present state of "State". Human societies (even the "isolated" burmese society!) and individual human beings (even Blair) are very complex in nature and beyond the comprehension of a single person whether it is an Orwell or a Larkin. I do admit that I read books not to find the "final explanation" to any kind of problem, but to enjoy and I really enjoyed reading this book.



4. I learned some new things about Orwell. Most importantly: did you know that O. wrote 3 books about Burma, not just 1 as I had thought, naively?
   After 'Burmese Days', there was also 'Animal Farm' (how the pigs with the dogs overthrew the farmers to take power) and then '1984' (how the powers control the minds and the records). These are predictions on Burma! Who would doubt it?
   Second: when O was on his death bed, dying from TB at a much too young age, he was working on another novel or story about Burma. That was really new to me.
   This book by an American journalist written under a pseudonym works on 3 levels, like a layer cake.
   There is the Orwell biography; and frankly speaking, that is a disappointing part, because when the author followed O's traces in Burma, she didn't really find much. That is mainly because she was travelling as a tourist and couldn't do open research. Not her fault. What she injects is from other sources, like visits to London libraries and the Orwell archive. The visits to O's Burma places serve more for background colour than for new insights.
   Second layer: this is a travel book about the places where O lived in Burma. We get to look at Mandalay, the Delta, Rangoon, Moulmein, and Katha.The book delivers the travel account without much passion. Let's put it this way: Larkin as a travel writer isn't exactly sparkling. She may never make it to the top ten of the genre.
   Third layer: maybe the most important part or level of the book is the description of the totalitarian routine of life in Burma. While even this lacks spark, it is certainly an important contribution to the international knowledge of a tough subject to be informed about. The descriptions of daily life are continuously set against a background of 1984 scenes.
   In short: a book worth reading that somehow remains short of expectations.



5. Finding George Orwell in Burma
   
   
   The premise of Emma Larkin's intriguing book is that the current political climate in Burma was eerily forecast in three of George Orwell's books: "Burmese Days," his first book based on his experience in the British Police Force in Burma in the 1920's; "Animal Farm," the allegory in which beasts take on the characteristics of their oppressors; and "1984," the grim projection of totalitarianism regimes. "It is a particularly uncanny twist of fate that these three novels effectively tell the story of Burma's recent history. The link begins with Burmese Days, which chronicles the country's period under British colonialism. Not long after Burma became independent from Britain in 1948, a military dictator sealed off the country from the outside world, launched "The Burmese Way to Socialism," and turned Burma into one of the poorest countries in Asia. The same story is told in Orwell's Animal Farm....Finally, in Ninteen Eighty Four," Orwell's description of a horrifying and soulless dystopia paints a chillingly accurate picture of Burma today, a country ruled by one of the world's most brutal and tenacious dictatorships." (Larkin, P. 3)
   Larkin (a pseudonym, to protect her and her sources) is an American journalist based in Thailand who has seen modern Burma close-up.
   
   As I write this, Beijing is opening the Olympics (August 8, 2008) The eyes of the world are on China, as it wrestles with coming of age economically and politically.
   It is also the 20th Anniversary of a bloody uprising in Burma, which resulted in a brutal crackdown and the deaths of at least 3,000 people. The BBC (for which Orwell reported, and which itself is banned from reporting from inside Burma) says: "Elsewhere in Asia, human rights groups and activists who fled in the aftermath of the 1988 protests held demonstrations outside Burmese and Chinese embassies.
   "We are here because China is the main supporter of the military regime," Kyaw Lin Oo, a Burmese activist, told reporters outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok"
   
   One of Burma's true heroes is Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the daughter of Aung San, who was assassinated as Burma gained independence from Britain. She has been under house arrest for virtually her entire adult life, but still heads the banned National League for Democracy (NLD). The Burma Government is faced with a dilemma with Aung San; he was instrumental in Burma's fight against colonialism and thus a national hero. But his daughter is the regime's sworn enemy. So the Government simply omits him in its official histories.Perfect Hostage: A Life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's Prisoner of Conscience
   Larkin recounts a curious period in Burmese history. When the Japanese occupied Burma, there was a crop shortage, and the only thing available to feed the donkeys they depended upon for transportation was parched, white grain.The donkeys refused to eat it. So they developed an ingenious solution: they fashioned spectacles out of green glass and wire and hung them over the donkey's ears. The donkeys, thinking they were eating green grass, ate it happily. That period of Burmese History became known as "The Time of the Green Spectacles."
   As one Burmese said: '"That's what we have to do...view the world through green glasses." White is green, bad is good, war is peace. Orwell is alive and well in Burma.

5 comments about Frommer's Scotland (Frommer's Complete).

1. I'm planning a trip to Scotland (leaving next week), and have never used Frommer's guides before. It has good suggestions for interesting touristy places to visit in Scotland, and gives a well written, concise historical description of the sites, which I like.
   
   However, for booking hotels, I haven't selected a single suggestion from Frommers. This is because their suggestions are generally way too expensive. For example, looking for accomodations in the Orkney Islands, you'd think it was impossible to spend less than $150 a night if you relied exclusively on this guide. On the web, I found that there are at least a handful two and three star hotels in Kirkwall that were less than $100 a night, and look very nice.
   
   Also, it says in Frommer's that it's ~$100 to travel by train to Edinburgh from London, but it doesn't mention that there are actually a huge range of fares, from ~$20 to more than $200 at www.virgin.com/trains, that depends on how early you purchase the tickets, and how flexible you want the ticket to be.
   
   From these and other examples, I've decided that Frommer's is a fine place to start for an overview and figuring out where I want to go, but I'd end up unnecessarily spending a fortune if I relied on it for the practical stuff.



2. I have an older edition of the Frommer's Scotland, and I really love it. It is arranged nicely (by region mostly), and gives a lot of details about the biggest cities and most popular tourist attractions. However, it also gives some great regional information and stuff about the smaller towns. I like that it gives you admission prices, hours etc. for most attractions (the prices in my book are outdated, but still a good general idea). I haven't traveled to Scotland yet, but this book has got me very excited about my upcoming holiday. Very practical information!!



3. Purchased this book to help with planning for a forthcoming trip to Scotland. Seems fairly informative, but can only really review it after taking the trip.



4. If you are planing on spending more than a few days in Scotland, you should read this book.



5. Wonderful book. Gives all of the information that you could ever need while visiting Scotland. I know where to sleep, where to eat, where to drink, what sites to see, and everything in between now. Thank you!

5 comments about One Special Summer.

1. This was written when travel was glamorous and these two certainly made the rounds! I was journalling before journalling and scrapbooking became the present rage and enjoyed this book because it was done without the present day pre-fabbed gew-gaws. The sisters took their mother and later the lucky readers through castles and meetings with friends of friends who were high up and taught us how to handle an embarrassing situation of being taken "home" across Paris by a couple who really didn't ant to take them home, Lee did a hilarous entry of her experience at a dance where she danced with a lead-footed man who pointed out his family "all with the same noses!" and Jackie drew herself dancing with a dashing Russian Soldier during the same event. These two had a great approach to life and even their bad days were hilarious adventures. Much is written in French and it delighted my second year French-student daughter then she discovered that she was able to translate for me. After reading this book, you will discover how to have a good time and find the humor in any situation and never leave a sheet of paper or an envelope blank. Jackies' drawings are easy and cute an an inspiration! One of my daughters' teachers borrowed this book from me to show the students that they can make art anywhere about anything!



2. One thing Ms. Bouvier always represented was the epitome of good taste, elegance, eloquent and proper speech, good breeding. She was sought after by the most powerful men in the world for her finesse and broad knowledge of how to entertain, how to dress, how to decorate, how to present herself out to the world.
   
   Women who aspire to the essence of character could always profit from any study of this women, even though some of the gossipy rags fail to capture what she was truly all about - good manners, decorum, family, politeness, steadfastness and caring.



3. This beautiful little book is a reminder of why we should be encouraged to write about experiences that mean something to us - like your first time travelling without parents! OK, so we would not all get published as Lee did, but... Their tone and experiences will translate to so many people and remind us of where to find the fun in life.
   Buy it for the girl or woman in your life. She'll have it forever!



4. I am a fan of "Happy Times" and was thrilled to be able to won a copy of this very special volume of memories and musings.



5. These two kid's couldnt write to save their lives. But I looked up "the old dutch mill", and I now know what a Hillman Minx is .. now you can too

5 comments about Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: A Transatlantic Survival Guide, Revised Edition.

1. This book Pokes fun but tells the truth about our two cultures. It is a very entertaining eye-opener as it compares the American and the British point of view concerning all the basics of living. A quick read with quite a few chuckles.



2. At the risk of going on a tirade, it deplicted all Americans to be gum-chewing, pink-cowboy-hat-wearing, loud, uneducated, boorish idiots. Conversely, it depicted the English/ British as pompous, bowler-hat-wearing, demure, easily-offended, hyper-mannered, stifled bores. I am American and my husband is English; we are nothing if not the polar opposite of these depictions. I was constantly offended my the author's wide-cast net of stereotypes. I agree there are many in ANY country of these type-casts, but to write a book attempting to acclimatize people to a new country/ lifestyle/ attitude... honey, do some more research that isn't heavily embedded in watching old reruns of "Keeping Up Appearances" and/ or "Dukes of Hazard".



3. I am both and English and American citizen, and I finally understand how I have become so screwed up : )
   This explains it all, and is laugh out loud funny.
   A gem!!!



4. Those who frequently travelled to the UK like I do will laugh at the author's spot on musings on Brit-think and Ameri-think. I read this book after coming back from the UK and completely related to the tales of how miserably cold Americans feel as soon as they land in the UK. While everyone else walked around in flimsy t-shirts, pretending it was 100 degrees in the shade, I was covered in layers of sweaters and yet felt chilly 24/7! This is a must read for those who've been to the UK and even for those who haven't (at least you' ll be prepared).



5. This is a wonderful perspective of both Brits and Yanks and I highly recommend it.